($1,786) Movers From Oakland, CA to Virginia Beach, VA

What to know before moving from Oakland to Virginia Beach

Moving from Oakland to Virginia Beach comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Virginia Beach is generally more expensive than Oakland, it’s important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.

Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Virginia Beach are 11% lower than in Oakland, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Virginia Beach.
  Home prices in Virginia Beach are 45.3% lower than in Oakland.
• Income in Virginia Beach is 13.3% lower than in Oakland, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Virginia Beach include Stihl, Navy Exchange, and Venture Realty Group.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Virginia Beach, since the cost of living for a single person in Virginia Beach is 44.1% higher than in Oakland. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Virginia Beach is 31.2% lower than in Oakland.
• The unemployment rate in Virginia Beach is 6.67% higher than in Oakland.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Virginia Beach, since the city’s sales taxes in Virginia Beach are 41.46% lower than in Oakland.
• One perk of moving to Virginia Beach is paying less in state income taxes, which are 56.77% lower than in Oakland.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,322.63 in Virginia Beach to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Oakland.

How life is different in Oakland vs. Virginia Beach

• Virginia Beach and Oakland have roughly the same population, which could make adjusting to your new life in Virginia easier.
• Getting around Virginia Beach without a car might be more difficult than in Oakland. Virginia Beach has a public transportation score of 3 out of 10, whereas Oakland is ranked 8. Ratings are based on a city’s transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
• Virginia Beach neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Oakland. Based on its score of 33 out of 100, Virginia Beach isn’t as walkable as Oakland, which has a score of 75 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Virginia Beach, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Oakland. While Oakland has a bike-friendliness score of 65 out of 100, Virginia Beach earned a 42. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
• Virginia Beach has a lower crime rate than Oakland based on scores of 42.0 and Oakland's 68.62, respectively. The crime index shows how safe a city is perceived to be. So, a lower score generally means less crime.
• You might find more confidence in your overall safety in Virginia Beach than in Oakland, based on Virginia Beach’s safety index of 58.0 versus 31.38 for Oakland. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
• The air quality in Virginia Beach and Oakland is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Oakland vs. Virginia Beach move

• Weather: Virginia Beach has winters that are cool with light snowfall. Summers are hot and humid. The wettest season is summer, specifically July to early September, with August being the single wettest month.
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: In addition to filing tariffs and complying with insurance, bond, and highway safety requirements, all intrastate moving companies in Virginia must have a certificate from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (VaDMV). Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Virginia moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Virginia does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Virginia Beach. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.In Virginia, movers commonly offer Released Value Protection at no additional cost, providing coverage at 60 cents per pound. For increased protection, consider discussing Full Value Protection options with the moving company. Alternatively, explore third-party insurance providers for personalized plans. It's essential to understand coverage limits, potential additional costs, and read reviews to make an informed decision about your moving insurance in Virginia.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Virginia Beach

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Neptune City", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Virginia Beach.

Helpful moving resources